Monthly Salary and the Distance to 3 Billion: Hu Weiwei's Talent Recognition Rules

A 32-year-old woman working part-time with a monthly salary of 9,200 yuan, seemingly an ordinary person, but she created nearly 3 billion RMB in wealth within just three years. This is not a fairy tale, but a true story about how to recognize people, seize opportunities, and dare to bet on oneself. Her name is Hu Weiwei, the founder of Mobike.

The beginning of this story seems quite accidental. At the time, she was a journalist earning only 9,200 yuan a month, living a modest life. But it was this journalism job that gave her the most valuable assets—extensive connections and sharp information-gathering skills.

Seizing a Turning Point: One Sentence Changed Her Trajectory

During an interview, she met Li Bin together with an engineer. In their conversation, the engineer mentioned his dream of making bicycles, not cars. Li Bin casually said, “Making bicycles is fine, but why not make a shared bike that can be borrowed and returned anywhere?”

This seemingly careless suggestion was overlooked by the engineer. But Li Bin turned to look at the female journalist and said something that would change her life: “Why don’t you do it? If you can really do it, I’ll invest angel funds in you.”

Opportunity suddenly appeared. And most importantly—she said, “I will do it!” This required not only courage but also a keen sense of opportunity. Soon after, Li Bin invested 5 million yuan in her as an angel investor. She resolutely quit her job as a journalist and embarked on her entrepreneurial journey.

How Technological Breakthroughs Can Disrupt the Market: The Innovation of Shared Bicycles

After quitting, she conducted in-depth market research and interviews. But the initial challenges of starting a business were significant—no manufacturers were willing to take on this project. The reason was very practical: bicycles need to withstand sun and rain, and must not break within four years to recoup costs. This was extremely difficult with the manufacturing technology at the time. Essentially, it meant redesigning the entire manufacturing process, which involved huge costs and unknown risks.

Fortunately, her journalist network came into play again. A car engineer was willing to help design the product. The engineer’s innovative ideas completely changed the traditional bicycle design logic: tires made of rubber that don’t need inflation; removing complex hinge structures and chains. These seemingly simple modifications were actually well-thought-out engineering innovations, greatly improving the durability and usability of the bicycle.

Thus, in an era before the concept of “shared bicycles” was popular, Mobike was born. It not only solved technical problems but also created a brand-new business concept. Soon, Mobike became a street sensation—ubiquitous and rapidly igniting the market.

Capital Influx and Smart Exit: The Secret to a Perfect Three-Year Exit

Mobike’s success attracted continuous capital inflows, with investors rushing in and competitors emerging one after another. But she made the smartest decision at the most critical moment—taking profits.

Three years later, she sold Mobike to Meituan for 3.7 billion USD, holding a 9% stake. This deal netted her nearly 3 billion RMB in returns. From a part-time worker earning 9,200 yuan a month to a founder with nearly 3 billion in wealth, this was an astonishing financial turnaround.

What makes this story thought-provoking isn’t just the 3 billion figure, but the key life lesson it reveals: Seizing opportunities requires three conditions—sharp information-gathering ability, decisive decision-making, and proper timing. A monthly salary of 9,200 yuan isn’t the point; what matters is the network and perspective accumulated in that job. When the door of opportunity knocked, she chose to say “yes,” and proved herself within three years.